Reverend John Hale in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, gives a glimpse into the infamous witchcraft hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The play opens after a group of girls has been caught dancing in the woods by the town minister, Reverend Parris. When one of the girls suddenly becomes stricken with an unusual disease, the first assumption is witchcraft and John Hale is brought in. Hale, an expert of witchcraft, is called to Salem to discover the evil behind the girl’s affliction. But the longer he remains in Salem, the more he asks himself: Where does the true evil reside in Salem?

John Hale is described as a middle-aged man with an abundance of energy, as well as an abundance of arrogance. He is well-known in the surrounding area as an expert of witchcraft, and is immediately called into Salem by Reverend Parris. Upon first meeting Parris, his haughty behavior is evident in all aspects. For example, while unpacking his books, he explains their weight by saying, “they are weighted with authority” (p.36). Hale maintains this irritating attitude throughout the first half of the play. This behavior influences his personal decisions as well as the irrational conclusions made about his overall purpose in Salem.

Hale’s decisions throughout the course of The Crucible shape the witch trials in general as well as the ongoing trials in his judgment. His initial decision to come to Salem, in many ways, sparks the hysteria. His intent is to “crush him [the Devil] utterly if he has shown his face,” (p.39) and he immediately takes action. He decides to interrogate those first accused with fervor, especially Tituba, the Barbadian servant to Reverend Parris. He even has the audacity to question John and Elizabeth Proctor, two of the most rever...

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...e stood for. His experiences in Salem have been life changing and will not be soon forgot.

Reverend John Hale, the once arrogant, self-centered witch hunter, transforms in a good hearted being who would go to great lengths to fight for those around him, all within a few months in Salem. Hale, in many ways, has been tortured in the town. The very ideals he stood upon have been pulled from under him, leading him to discover the real truth and develop a sense of awareness unlike any other character in the play. His experiences lead him to realize where the truth evil resides, within him. He attempts to right all his wrongs and, although is unsuccessful in many of his attempts, walks away from Salem a better man. It is characters like Hale that make Miller’s The Crucible a timeless work of literature that teaches some of the greatest moral values of any generation.